Noel A. Pinnock

Life hasn't always been easy for Noel A. Pinnock who is a recognized expert with over 22 years of experience in transforming underperforming companies into positions of prosperity and optimum value. He is a Brooklyn, New York transplant and grew up on the south side of Houston, Texas in Sunnyside. He is one of five boys and a twin. His father, Maple Pinnock, is native to Jamaica and provided the financial support as a mechanic garage owner in southwest Houston. His mom, Debbie Pinnock, was a home maker and dedicated her life to raising her five boys or as she calls them, God's five reasons. Living on a very tight income, Noel's family managed to overcome many of the challenges that persist in a hyper-poverty, high crime community that has been dubbed the most dangerous community in the country.

Overcoming the temptations related to selling drugs, doing drugs, or engaging in criminal activities were very challenging in an environment where that was the norm. He can remember trying to sell drugs for one day but decided that Houston was just too hot to stand on a corner and distribute. His parents made it an economic imperative to study hard and stay ahead of the competition. He attended Sunnyside Elementary where he and his brothers excelled and was invited to attend secondary schools outside the boundaries of Sunnyside. It was there that he found that life is much bigger than the "hood."

Noel graduated from the High School for Health Professions with honors and later earned his Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Biology and Chemistry, within a three-year period. Noel was the first to graduate from college in two generations. He then earned his Master of Public Administration with concentrations in Urban Development, City Planning, and Business Management. Both degrees were conferred at Texas Southern University (TSU). In 2005 and 2006, Noel authored Seven Spiritual Conformities through Jesus Christ and Had it Not Been for Him. Both published books are available for free reading at noelpinnock.com. Noel enjoys writing motivational articles for D-mars Business Journal as well as other print circulations. His mid-term goal is to represent his community at the local, state, and national level. He currently serves on several boards and committees throughout the United States and is an adjunct graduate professor at Springfield College as well as an active member of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators.

He specializes in strategic, operational, and tactical services. As a national certified public manager (CPM), he has been responsible for overseeing many large-scale municipal and company transformations and is known for his creative and energetic leadership in strategic redirection, motivational speaking, organizational/workforce development, and market repositioning/rebranding.

With the common mission of optimizing service delivery, Noel has held several key change agent positions; collectively, these have virtually transformed many organizations through reengineering business processes and establishing industry best practices. He is employed by the City of Houston where he works with the city's leadership in transforming the City of Houston in becoming a world-class city to live, work, play, and shop.

Noel's son is in college and on the road to playing ball professionally while graduating with a degree in Science and his daughter is sharply following her big brother's footsteps and aspires to be a doctor as well. He has been married to for more than 20 years. In his words, the generational cycle of poverty has ended with his family and replaced with a culture of achievement.

My Brother's Keeper Houston carves out a child's pathway to becoming a productive citizen and a contributor to the community he/she will live in. Noel is committed to following the path that has been established because it just makes sense!

Karlton Harris

Karlton Harris grew up in a single-parent home on the south-side of Chicago and was influenced greatly by lessons learned on the streets. At the age of 2, Karlton lost what most sons need the most, his dad. Because of the lack of a male role model or “father figure”, he headed down the wrong path. He shot his first gun at the young age of 8 and became a dedicated gang member at 10 years old. Karlton joined one of Chicago’s notorious street gangs, the Conservative Vice Lords. He resided in Roseland, a neighborhood predominantly saturated by the opposing gang. This led to Karlton engaging daily in gang fights. Fist fights eventually led to shoot-outs and all out gang wars. His gang activity also included stealing cars, sealing drugs, and unlawfully possessing guns.

Karlton first encountered the criminal justice system in his senior year of high school, when he was caught driving a stolen car. He received probation for this offense which resulted in his life quickly spiraling out of control. Although Karlton was involved in criminal activity, education was his outlet. He was ranked in the top 10% of his high school senior class. However; due to his heavy gang involvement; Karlton decided to drop out one semester prior to graduating. He became a full time drug dealer. At the age of 18, Karlton was arrested for selling and distributing a controlled substance to an under-cover agent. He was later found guilty of this charge and sentenced to 4 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. While in prison he and other drug dealers discussed the details of their arrest in hopes of developing an arrest proof plan. Within months of being released from prison on house arrest, Karlton implemented “the plan”. This didn’t last for long, within 3 months of his release, Karlton was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and armed violence. In 1995, he was sentenced to 18 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Karlton was determined not to spend his second incarceration as he did his first. Instead of counting the days, he decided to make the days count. This time around he renounced his gang affiliation and enrolled in college. He successfully completed his first two years and obtained his associates degree. Karlton successfully appealed his prison sentence and was granted an early release. After serving 5 years in prison, he was released February 14th, 2000. This time he had a different plan. His plan was to enroll in a 4 year University to study business and learn how to publish his first book that he penned while incarcerated. Just like the first time, Karlton stuck to his plan. In 2002, Karlton graduated from Olivet Nazerene University.

Prior to graduating Karlton went and met with Judge Kathy Elliot, the judge who had reduced his sentenced and gave him a second chance. Through this meeting, Kankakee County Renewed Opportunity, a non- profit organization was formed to assist formerly incarcerated individuals transition back into society. Karlton was appointed as the President of the board. In 2009, Karlton released his book, “I’m Free! Now What?” a 10 step Prisoner Guide to reduce recidivism. His book was an instant success. Mr. Harris was the 2010 Aida Ford Scholar Award Recipient for his book and became the face of re-entry. He was highlighted by the Atlanta post as one of eight ex-offenders with an inspiring transformation. His book opened doors for him to publicly speak and advise government entities and non-profit organizations on strategies to assist those returning home from incarceration. Karlton’s book has been implemented as a resource to reduce recidivism by the Illinois Department of Corrections, Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons

In 2013, Karlton appeared on Oprah’s Life class discussing the importance of fatherhood. Today Karton has been free for over 17 years and is a much sought-after conference speaker and holistic re-entry specialist. His focus is on Prevention, Intervention, and Re-entry with an emphasis on Faith, Freedom, and Fatherhood. He is the Program Manager for Houston’s My Brother’s Keeper ReDirect Juvenile Diversion Program. ReDirect is a post adjudication diversion program that serves as an alternative to incarceration. Karlton is passionate about helping young boys of color achieve their purpose in life even after they’ve made a mistake. He can relate and wants to demonstrate to them that he is his brother’s keeper.